Check-In
Check-in is at 4:00PM. Please understand that check-in is 4 so that we can make sure the space is nice and tidy before you arrive. Your lock code won’t work before 4.
You’ll receive a message the day before your arrival that includes your code to enter the property. The Schlage lock is very intuitive. If you have any problem, let us know.
As you walk through the space and look through the guidebook, if you have any questions whatsoever don’t hesitate to reach out. We respond very quickly.
Please take the trash out to the bins on the side of the garage outside. There are two bins and a recycling bin, so there should be plenty of room. My dad will stop by Wednesday evening to take the bins to the curb.
There are two spaces locked to guests: the utility room in the basement and the garage. If you find either open, please let us know.
Enjoy your stay!
Check-Out
We hope you had a wonderful stay! Before you go, please tend to a few things:
- Wash pans and make sure all dirty dishes are in the dishwash. Start the dishwasher.
- Bring either of the trash bins that contain garbage to the edge of the road (needs to be close). Pick up is Thursday, but there may not be a guest between when you check-out and then.
- If you used beach towels, please make sure to start them in the washer. All other linens are laundered by a service.
- Check that the back sliding door is locked before exiting through the front door and locking that with the lock button.
Thanks!
We would love it if you could take two minutes tomorrow afternoon to leave us a quick review. Of course we will leave you on in return.
A five-star rating is very important to us and goes a long way to helping our family business. If you had any issues during your stay, please let us know before leaving.
Holland Highlights
Here are a few of things that we try to do when we are in town. You may enjoy some of them as much as we do. Let us know!
Captain Sundae is a must. It’s nearby, has a ridiculous number of options, and there’s even a pirate ship where you can pretend to be Captain McSweetTooth as you enjoy your Tommy Turtle (which is the right choice, by the way). Everyone stops by Captain Sundae, even Mitt Romney and George Bush (junior) have stopped by here for an ice cream. Don’t worry if they’re not your preferred company, ice cream is one of the few remaining bipartisan issues.
Downtown Holland. So many treasures here.
- Peanut Store–artisan chocolates, roasted nuts, ice cream treats all made in-house alongside all your favorite “brand name” candy. The Fabianos have been running this store with the best customer service imaginable for 120 years.
- The Outpost–camping gear, kayaks, boots, hats, gloves, packs: basically everything outdoorsy. They carry the bigs: Patagonia & North Face along with other top brands. The Moshers have run this store for nearly fifty years now.
- Lemonjello’s is one of a few coffee shop / cafes. I like the vibe here best, but you may prefer The Good Earth or Ferris. I’m not the only one, though, Lemonjello’s has been written up nationally as one of America’s must-visit coffee shops.
- Summer Street Performance Series features an ecclectic set of musicians and performers on Thursday evenings (6:30-8:30) running from June 16th through August 18th. Last time we were there, there was a performer breathing fire, a baloon guy, a juggler, and plenty of musicians.
- Reader’s World is a small bookstore with a couple of sections dedicated to local authors and local history. They always have some gorgeous coffee table books, the full slate of contemporary popular fiction and charming children’s books. Yes, there’s a Barnes & Noble on the northside off the highway, but if you like books, you probably appreciate the independent option. RW has been family owned and run for 50 years in downtown Holland.
- Souvenirs and what-not can be found both at Fris & Apothecary Gift Shop, and there are also hub stores for Crane’s Orchard Pies and Dutch Village on 8th Street.
- The Holland Museum is brimful of local lore and makes for an excellent rainy day destination.
You have two options if you’d like to go extreme dutch: Nelis’ Dutch Village and Windmill Island. I’d head to Dutch Village if you have kids: there are rides, animals and even a station to make your own authentic dutch dessert for a dollar. If you’re more interested in historical cultural roots, Windmill Island is the way to go. It boasts DeZwaan, the United States’ only working Dutch windmill. It was transported to Holland, Michigan in the 60s, and it was the last to make the trip out of the Netherlands. Both locations have Dutch dancers, if wooden shoes are your thing.
Restaurants
Nearby
- Playa Tacos is around the corner on Ottawa Beach Road on the way to the Holland State Park beach. It is brand new this summer. We haven’t eaten here yet, but it looks great.
- Itty Bitty Bar is the other way down Ottawa Beach Road. Their motto is “five star dive bar,” and that’s about right. This is the best option for later food, but be sure to call ahead to make sure the kitchen is still open.
- Kin is a very popular local coffee shop, and for good reason.
Destination
- The traditional Holland breakfast spot is The Windmill. Standard diner, breakfast fare is on offer here. It gets busy, so earlier is better than later if you want to avoid a line.
- Boatwerks is a waterfront restaurant that’s definitely worth a visit. The decor is an homage to Holland’s boat building history.
- Waverly Stone Gastropub is highly regarded. I’ve only had excellent meals here.
Overall
There are at least a dozen great restaurants in downtown Holland. Let us know what you find and what you think!
Beaches
Feel free to bring the house beach towels, wagon, toys and umbrella to any of the beach options. The two main options are Tunnel Park and Holland State Park. There are also several small public access beaches as you head north toward Grand Haven. It’s also worth mentioning that Tunnel Park is run by Ottawa County while, as the name suggests, Holland State Park is run by the State. A day or season pass for one will not work for the other.
The nearest option is Tunnel Park. There’s less beach here compared to Holland State Park, but that means less of a walk across sand to get to the water (more important with children in tow), and it may not be as crowded. Prepare your best animal calls for the echoing tunnel through the dune to get to the beach! Any kids in your group will also enjoy the playground at the foot of the dune. If you’re here for the views and not so much the sand, you can skip the tunnel and walk up the stairs to the top of the dune instead. I love this place, but I’m biased–I’ve been coming here since before I could walk. While there is a paid pass to drive in, it is free to park across the street and walk in. You can also walk here from the house; it takes a bit more than ten minutes and is a bit more than half a mile.
Holland State Park is the largest beach with the most space, parking and amenities in the area. It’s also a campground and has a store to get snacks. You can walk the length of the pier, watch the boats traverse the channel or simply lay out. There’s even a playground for any children in your group. This can be a good starting point for a long beach walk to the north, just be mindful of my note at the bottom of this section. There’s a fee to park here, though just as Tunnel Park, it’s free to walk in.
There are a number of public access beaches without any facilities: they’re at the ends of James, Riley and Van Buren streets. I haven’t been to any of the three in years, so one or more of them may have shuttered to erosion.
A note about walking the beach: It is entirely lawful to walk the Lake Michigan shoreline up to the high water mark, which is considered to be part of the Public Trust. You may see private property signs–and it is private property–but you are allowed to walk through along the lake. I wouldn’t set up and stay, however; that would be considered trespassing. Also, you have to get to the lake through public access; Public Trust doesn’t allow you to walk through someone’s property to get to the lake. Enjoy the lake! It’s for all of us!
Trails and Hikes
Mt. Pisgah:Lots of stairs with a scenic view worth the work! This is just over a mile walk from the house. It overlooks the Holland State Park and Lake Michigan, Lake Macatawa and the lighthouse.
The Stu Visser Trails are a great place to stop for a walk between the house and town. There’s parking to the north off Lakewood and to the south off Ottawa Beach Road. The longer trail follows a stream for about a mile each way as an “out and back” trail. There’s also a small loop around some wetlands at the south end.
Riley Trails offer easy hiking through the trees and over water. It’s a few miles from the house and doubles purpose as a bike trail.
The Kuker-Van Til Nature Preserve is good for a walk through towering trees, particularly for bird watching.
In addition to the designated parks and trails, Holland’s northside boasts dozens of miles of broad biking/walking paths along Lake Shore Drive, Ottawa Beach Road, Lakewood, James, Riley, Quincy, 168th, 160th, 152nd, 144th and 136th. There are several bicycle for your use in the shed, but we ask that your provide your own helmet.
Parks and Playgrounds
We are in Holland regularly with our own children, and there are lots of options for playgrounds.
- My older son’s favorite go-to playground is the one we walk to down 168th at Lakewood Elementary School. There’s a boat made to look like an old Chris Craft that rocks back and forth, a fire truck and plenty of climbing apparatus. The only down-side is the lack of shade if you happen to be staying when it’s hot. Also, it’s a school, so you can’t come here during school hours or if they’re hosting after-school programs–this is more a sumertime suggestion.
- Winstrom Park has a large playground, soccer fields, basketball courts, and a full disc golf course through the woods.
- Centennial Park in downtown Holland doesn’t feature a playground, but it is a point of interest because it’s adorned with a living book cover of the Wizard of Oz and a replica yellow brick road that leads across the street to Herrick Library where there are several bronze sculptures of characters from the book. It’s said that Mr. Baum wrote the beloved text while staying at his family’s cottage in Castle Park. True story. If you head the other way from Centennial Park you can enjoy a stroll through picturesque Hope College.
- If you happen to be downtown Holland and the kids need some run-around time, Sally Smoly Nature Playscape is better than your average playground. There’s climbing and obstacles hewn from logs, rocks and ropes. There’s even a full climbing wall. It’s also next to the Window on the Waterfront boardwalks and trails.
Breweries and Vineyards
I have to say, as someone who grew up in Holland during the 80s and 90s, it’s strange to me that this section is even a thing. Guess this is the new Holland. Which brings us to the headliner…
- New Holland Brewery beers and liquors are distributed to 44 states and Canada and as such, easily enjoys the most name recognition in town. It’s not just hype: they make good stuff, and the brewpub restaurant and distillery is worth a visit. They also have a tasting room in Saugatuck if you’re that way.
- Big Lake Brewing has grown steadily since they started out in 2009. Check it out and enjoy a flight!
- Tanglewood Winery is very close to home and enjoys an excellent reputation. Blueberries aren’t just for pies. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
- Hopland Brewstillery rounds out our short list as it’s also near the house and well-reputed.
- Not a brewery, but if you do enjoy a wide selection of beer, HopCat brewpub fits the bill.
Holland also recently launched a social district, meaning you can take alcoholic drinks to go from licensed establishments and enjoy them as you stroll down the street. Again, I find this utterly surreal, but I hope you enjoy it. Find more details here.
House Rules
We want you to have a fantastic time during your stay, but we do have to insist on a few house rules:
- No Smoking
- No Pets
- No parties or events
- Respect occupancy restrictions (10 guests)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the fireplace work and/or is that blue flame normal?
Yes (and yes)! There’s a knob to the right side of the fireplace itself: turning it will ignite the fire, continue turning it and the flames should rise, continue turning and it should extinguish. The little blue flame is just the pilot. If you suspect anything is amiss, always reach out.
There’s a second knob on the wall to the left of the fireplace. This one controls a fan that kicks the heat out from the hearth; it’s variable speed. Please click it to the off position when not in use.
May I use the fire wood next to the firepit?
Yes, it’s there for you. I stacked a truckload next to the shed at the beginning of July. Hopefully, there’ still plenty. Please be safe and make sure it’s all the way out if you leave, though: there’s a hose connected up on the deck and there’s a pail of sand on the left wall of the shed.
Electronics
Televisions
The living room TV uses a Fire Stick to enable streaming. The fire remote should give you all the functionality you need, but if you need to adjust something on the TV itself, the original remote is in the drawer to the left of the chairs along the kitchen counter. It’s an Element TV.
The downstairs and master bedroom TVs are TCLs with native smart features. Please feel free to log in and out of any of the services that you prefer on any TV.
Soundbars
The upstairs soundbar is a Polk, while the den soundbar is a Vizio. If you’re having some trouble, it could be that the remotes are switched up. They should be labeled.
The Vizio is a V-series with a wireless subwoofer. Here’s the manual.
The Polk is a Signa S3 with a wireless subwoofer. Here’s the manual.
If you use qobuz, spotify, youtube music, pandora, tidal or deezer, you should be able to connect to the Polk as a wi-fi connected output from your app, which is more reliable than bluetooth because it doesn’t rely on a signal from your device.
Nest Thermostat
One thing that can be tricky at first: it looks like a touch screen – it’s not. Instead, all inputs are handled by turning the device like a giant knob and clicking the entire device toward the wall. Here’s a short video that may help. https://youtu.be/3Q7hm5rhw54